The Tampa Townhall WAS NOT Open To The Public-UPDATED

NOTE: I just got off the phone with my family in Arizona. I want to say VERY STRONGLY something I said further down in the post: Feelings were intense at the town hall but from where I was, locked outside, THERE WAS NO VIOLENCE IN TAMPA! I will leave to those who were inside to say what happened there because I have no personal knowledge. On the outside people were angry and they were loud. They were also WELL BEHAVED. I don't know if reports to the contrary are from people who have an agenda BUT I would emphasize that any talk of violence or riots is far outside of the scope of my personal experience at the meeting.

I got to the "public" townhall sponsored by Rep. Kathy Castor and the SEIU an hour and a half before the doors were scheduled to open. Apparently, it would not have mattered when I arrived. We stood out in the 90 plus degree weather only to be told that that the hall had been filled through a side door and no one else would be let in.

The crowd surrounded the building. We stood in front of every door and window and chanted "just say no" and "live or die". The crowd was well behaved but really worked up. I heard several people say that there were three thousand people outside. I can't confirm it but I certainly don't doubt it.

From time to time people would come outside from the building carrying Obama signs and yell at the crowd. A woman wearing a Obama tee shirt came out and got in to the face of an elderly man standing near me. I've got to give him credit, he held his own even when she was literally nose to nose with him. A policeman worked his way over and told her to move on. At another point, a man came to the doorway who had his shirt all but ripped off and bleeding from scratches in his chest. People rushed forward to find out what happened and I ended up so pent in that I couldn't even raise my arms to get a picture. Despite how he looked, it didn't appear that he was badly hurt because he was smiling and laughing while talking to the police. He was only a few feet away from me but I couldn't hear anything he was saying. I have no idea which "side" attacked him.

There were a couple of women who had signs that said, "please fix health care." Even when the crowd got loud, the women were treated with respect and everyone gave them room.

At one point someone in an Obama shirt opened the door that I was standing right in front of. Standing just inside was a union member that is affiliated with my employer. He saw me and took my picture. The man standing next to noticed and I explained the situation to him. Within moments I had several people ask me if I would be "okay" and I assured them that I would be. I was really touched that total strangers would show concern for me.

I am upset, like everyone else that showed up, that we were locked out of what was supposed to be a public meeting. On the other hand, I am really proud of my fellow citizens. We represented every age group, every race and ethnic group. Rep. Kathy Castor made it clear that she doesn't represent us. That is okay. Next election, we will find someone who does.

The meeting was organized by Reed plus the Service Employees International Union, other unions and Organizing for America, a liberal group that grew out of the Obama presidential campaign.

Some opponents accused the organizers of trying to stack the crowd by allowing early admission to those on their side. Reed denied that, saying those admitted early were organizers setting up the room.

In any case, opponents appeared to outnumber proponents both inside and outside.

After doors to the meeting room closed, some of those outside crowded around the windows of the meeting room, where they held up signs and chanted.

I can't speak to what happened inside the hall but the liberal St Pete Times shows where they stand by using words like "spectacle" and "near riot"". There was neither taking place outside. .

The spectacle at the Children's Board in Ybor City sounded more like a wrestling cage match than a panel discussion on national policy, and it was just the latest example of a health care meeting disrupted by livid protesters. Similar scenes are likely to be repeated across the country as lawmakers head back to their home districts for the summer recess.

Thursday's forum/near riot was sponsored by state Rep. Betty Reed, D-Tampa, and the Service Employees International Union, who apparently had hoped to hold something of a pep rally for President Obama's health care reform proposal.

The event was conveniently held in a forum where only 250 people could fit. 1000 people showed up. SEIU members were given reserved seating that took up at least half of the 250 seats. As people came in who visibly oppose the Democrats healthcare plan, SEIU members barred access to the room.Again, the people I saw were angry and loud but well behaved. It was awful to stand for so long in blistering heat and humidity only to fins out that the organizers had stacked the hall. There was shouting. People did let their feelings known but I want to emphasize that there was no riot.

All depends on who is doing the counting. Remember, it's Chicago politics where the dead vote, and ballots appear in warehouses and parking lots.

Remember that Honduran ex-president's computer files showing overwhelming support for his trashing the Honduran Constitution before he was even allowed to call for the referendum? Obama and the Democrats support the ex-pres.

Comes 2010, a lot of districts will have more votes than voters in the districts.

Moecephus says;I love that citizens are coming out to protest and having thier voices heard. Real people who have fears and questions have the right to be included in thier own town hall meetings. Unfortunately the shipped in performers are shouting down the public officials who are there to give the answers. Apparently quite a number of protesters managed to get inside according to your own report. So what are you complaining about?The big money that started this as astroturf are loving it as well. They are huge publicly traded companies. Stockholders and investors are getting a thrill over the results of the trifling millions the have spent to buy Senators and Congressmen. It will be a huge victory FOR THEM to stop healthcare reform.Ask yourselves, what are you going to get? Higher and higher premiums. They are still raising them right now, but you want to trust them?You'll get smaller or no raises in pay if employers offer healthcare. Or less and less coverage. Pre-existing condition? Tuff luck, no coverage for you. Get really sick and hit your coverage limit? Tuff...sell your house, go bankrupt.Do you think these insurance companies care about you? They are using you to do thier work. Just think if you win in this just say no stratigy, what will you receive for it? Nothing. And you will deserve it. You will all celebrate the defeat for a day. Then when your insurance is unaffordable to you, give that big insurance company a call. Tell them how you helped them win. And listen really hard as they hang up on you. Because you just might hear them laughing as the are counting thier billions in profits.

Obama has no way to pay for his Marxist Utopian dream, we know it and he knows we know it, so does the SEIU and the rest of them. They are fighting so hard because they know if Obamacare fails, they lose millions of payoff dollars from the Chicago thug.

Fight them, fight them to the last. We will not allow our country to become another Russia because Obama is too stupid to understand that Socialism has never, and will never work. Obama is a child, determined to have his way, or else.

People are waking up thank God, I just wish it would have been sooner.

If any of you want some good T shirts to wear to the next Town Hall you attend, maybe take a look here- poster and other stuff too.

The meeting was, "... sponsored by state Rep. Betty Reed, D-Tampa, and the Service Employees International Union, who apparently had hoped to hold something of a pep rally for President Obama's health care reform proposal."

Doesn't that pretty much define the meeting as a liberal astroturfing event?

Hard to believe that a Democratic congresswoman elected with 71% of the vote would support a Democratic idea like health care reform.... 71%!!! Yeah, I'm sure she's really frightened about the next election.

right -let the goverment take it over-and they will raise it as high as they want-no free market -no savings-just one foot on your neck-I will not buy GE products(big time TARP taker) nor trade in my car -let them choke on what they want -never asked for half of the garbage -I owe them nothing.FREE E

I love how Rep. Kathy Castor has told reporters that she has heard "overwhelming support" for the Health Care Bill from her constituents.

FAX her and keep a copy. She is required BY LAW to keep faxes. That makes it much harder for her to spin the truth.

I agree with becoming poll watchers. Also get a state bill past to ban electronic voting machine if they are still allowed.

Our biggest problem now is Sovereign Bankruptcy like Iceland just went through. This would put the World Bank/IMF and the United Nations in control of the USA since international law allows the banks to dictate terms.

For the Socialist lurkers that means say goodbye to ALL social services....

I think that is the ultimate goal and why Al Gore is talking about "global Governance"

People! You do not have to put up with these worthless union rednecks. NEVER let anyone block you from a public meeting. If they try to block you satart swinging and dont stop until you cant hit anymore. I wish I would have been there. The news would have some good old fasion violance to cover. NEVR NEVER bow to a stupid redneck union piece of ****

About Me

Woke up one day and decided I'd better start paying attention. Found out that there is a direct correlation between paying attention and ulcers.
The ulcers don't bother me. Fortunately, my parents credo was "Don't let the bastards get you down!" I never have.